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Aero Club would reinstate his flying license in order to enter the Chicago Meet. This was done on August 31st. September 2nd he flew at Pittsburgh, Pa. with Lincoln Beachey and Earl Sandt. On September 7th he was at Cambridge, Ohio, then left for the Chicago Meet to be held September 12th through the 21st at Cicero and Grant Park. 

For that event Peck had both his Biplane and the new monoplane and planned to enter most major events, particularly the duration contests for both solo and passenger flights. He also had a new set of short span wings for his biplane to be used in speed events. While practicing at Cicero with this clipped wing biplane before the event started, on September 11th Peck crashed and was fatally injured. It was a bad day and very windy. Field Manager Andrew Drew had closed the field but Peck continued testing against all warnings. On his second flight he put the plane into a tight spiral at 1000 feet and did not come out of it. He was rushed to the nearest hospital but died two hours later at age 23. To heed continuing family objections he had planned to give up exhibition and competitive flying after the Chicago Meet and devote his time to plane and engine manufacturing. Peck had married during mid-summer, 1911 and his wife died giving birth to a daughter who survived. Peck was buried September 15th, 1912 in Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D. C. beside his wife.

Flying Pioneer Paul Peck certainly led a very energetic and active flying career for the short time he was allowed to contribute to early American aviation progress and left ample evidence of his creative ability and enthusiastic interest. Practically self-taught he quickly became a nationally known expert aviator and it is a pity indeed that he was taken away so quickly, for had he lived he undoubtedly would have gone on to many greater things.

[[stamp]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamp]]

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